Die for swedging bullets



F. T. HUNTINGTON 2,451,488

DIE FOR SWEDGING BULLETS Oct. 19, 1948..

s Sheets-sheaf 1 Filed March 9, 1944 F. T. HUNTINGTON DIE FOR SWEDGING BULLETS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 19

iq/ h F. T. HUNTlN GTON 2,451,488

DIE ,FOR SWEDGING BULLETS Filed March 9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Got. 19, 1948 NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIE FOR SWEDGING BULLETS Frederick T. Huntington, Oroville, Calif.

Application March 9, 1944, Serial No. 525,766

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a banded bullet and dies for its production.

It is particularly aimed to provide such a bullet wherein the band performs a number of functions, for instance, to reduce preliminary gas leakage as a contributary cause of erosion,-and will fit oversize bores and bores which ordinarily would require re-chambering due to use.

It is also aimed to provide a construction wherein the band is directly in continuation of and verges with the ogival curve of the point or head.

It is further aimed, by reason of the band on the bullet, to fabricate or provide one bullet of a size which will fit a series of small arms barrels perfectly.

t is additionally aimed to provide novel die means for the making of such bullets with the band which are simple, inexpensive and efilcient, in parts which may be accurately aligned, and which are of a construction enabling use thereof in conventional reloading tools, or any other support or equivalent.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing my improved die construction;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Figure 2, but through a slightly modified form;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 illustrates a deheading die and punc which may be employed;

Figure 6 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the parts of Figure 5 in connection with a punch holder;

Figure 7 is a cross section taken on the line 'l'! of Figure 6;

Figure '8 is a side elevation showing my improvements used in a reloading tool;

Figure 9 is an elevation of the bullet swedging punch;

Figure 10 is an elevation of the improved banded bullet;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal section taken on the line lI-H of Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a rear end elevation of said bullet.

Figure 13 is a cross section through a modified form of head section and nut; and

Figure 14 is an elevation of the head section of Figure 13.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, the invention provides a bullet of the shape shown in Figures 10 and 11. This bullet instead of being of the same diameter from and merging with the ogival curve I l at the point of the bullet, is of reduced diameter at the rear cylindrical portion l2 as at H! in order to provide an outwardly extending band l3 with the periphery of which the ogival curve ll merges as shown. The band is exaggerated in the illustrations of Figures 10 and 11, and in actual practice is for example, .002 of an inch greater in diameter than the diameter of the portion Ill.

The die structure according to the inveniton is adapted to form or produce the bullets using rim-fired, fired cases or other cases, with all of the bullet materials therein and thus forming a bullet assembly.

In order to produce the bullets from such assembly, I provide the die structure best shown in Figures 1 and 2. This die structure comprises a body section I4 and a head section I5 in separable relation thereto and arranged for accurate aligning. These sections it and I5 have similar external screw threads at V3 and ll, of any desired type and such screw threads are engaged to connect the heads together by the threads of a nut l8 such as a hexagonal nut as shown. Also threaded by screw threads on the threads I6, is a suitable lock nut I9. Head l5 may be turned by a rod or handle 20 removably applicable in an opening 2| of the head.

Section I4 has a central cylindrical bore at 22 in which a plunger is operable as hereinafter described, and which m at the lower end is preferably enlarged or flared at 23 to facilitate reception and guidance of the plunger.

Said bore 22 is aligned and communicates with a cavity 24 in the lower end surface of the section 15 which is of the size and shape to provide the point ll including the band at [3, the larger diameter of cavity or recess 24 thus being slightly greater than the diameter of the bore 22. Attention is called to the fact that the die structure of Figures 1 and 2 may be mounted in any suitable way, but are particularly adapted for mounting in a conventional reloading tool as suggested at 25 in Figure 8. Such a tool generally may have a C-shaped frame 26 with a screw-threaded opening 21 in the upper portion thereof. The threads at 21 are the reverse of those at 16 and the latter are threaded into the same as shown in Figure 8.

Said reloading tool may be mounted on any suitable support as at 28 and it has a cylinder 29 in which a punch holder or plunger 30 is adapted for reciprocation. This punch holder or ram 30 may be moved by any suitable mechanism, for instance, by means of a pitman 3| pivoted at 32 to the ram or plunger, and pivoted at 33 to a short lever 34 in turn pivoted at 35 to the frame of the reloading tool, and from which lever 34, a

handle 36 extends to facilitate manipulation. It will be realized that through manipulation of the handle 36 to rock the lever 34, pressure may be applied to the holder or ram 30. A bullet swedging punch 37 is adapted to be secured in a socket at the upper end of the holder 36 as by means of a screw 38 engageable against a flat portion 32 of the punch.

It will be realized that the bullet assembly is disposed from below into the bore 2 2 and that the lever 25 is thereafter operated so that the punch 37 will press the bullet assembly tightly so that its upper end will be shaped in the recess or cavity 24 and its lower end conform to the diameter of the bore 22, thus producing bullets of the shape shown in Figures 10 and 11 and particularly having the band [3.

It will be noted that the die sections I4 and 15 in Figures 1 and 2 abut or contact in the same plane. Instead of having this flat engagement, a body section designated Ma in Figure 3 may be counterbored as at 40, and the head section equivalent of that at l and here designated 15a, has a reduced end portion M inti mately fitting the counterbore so that the sections will accurately align. Otherwise the construction is identical with that disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 and the same reference characters have accordingly been applied.

It will be noted that in order to remove a swedged bullet, that the sections l4 and 15 or one of them, is removed. Also, the lock nut may be secured in place against accidental displacement through the engagement of a small screw 42 threaded to it, binding against the threads l6.

It will be realized that the reloading tool is capable of performing various operations in con nection with bullets and projectiles. Such machine or apparatus may be used for deheading the rim-fired, fired cases before the loading thereof and swedging of the bullet assembly. In this connection, a suitable deheading die is used as shown in Figures 5 and 6 at 13, the same having screw threads at 36 engageable with those at 27 so that the deheading die 43 may be ap plied to the frame 26 in lieu of the bullet swedging die structure. On the deheading die, a lock nut 45 may be applied and secured against accidental displacement by a screw 46 threaded thereto and engageable against the threads 4-5. This die 43 has a bore at 47 flared at its lower end as at 48, and coacting with the bore and di is a punch 49 which is used in place of the bullet swedging 31 and secured and operated in the same manner by the screw 38 engageable against a flat portion 50 of the punch 49.

The band 53 of the present invention, aided by its location, imparts a much more uniform torque and. stabilizing efiect. Strains created by excessive torque are better equalized. The bullets also function to perfection in free-bored barrels particularly as itgreatly reduces the preliminary gas leakage which is the main contributary cause of erosion. The invention makes it possible to form a bullet which will fit properly the various bore dimensions of small arms barrels, as now manufactured in the various calibers, and particularly .220 caliber, etc. Such bullet havin the band I3 makes it possible to cause a wornout barrel to fire accurately. For instance, if the die structure is produced to form a bullet as outlined, and the rifleman has two rifles of .220 caliber, one with a groove diameter of say, .223 inches, and another of the same caliber but with a .225 inch groove diameter, he simply resizes the banded bullet according to the invention, by running it through the bore 22, with the head 15 removed.

The invention renders it possible to fabricate or produce one size of bullet that will fit a whole series of small arms barrels perfectly.

In instances where it is desired to be able to quickly remove and replace a head section such as I5, I use a head section 151) which is identical with that at 15, except its screw threads Ilb are interrupted, that is, smooth surfaces llc occur between them, for instance there being four of such smooth surfaces He. The nut in such event correspondingly to that at I8, is indicated I81), and it has interrupted screw threads I engageable with those at [1b. Between the threads 180 are smooth surfaces ll'd. As a result, the head l5b need be turned but degrees or less to detach or replace it.

It is also to be understood that my improvements may be used to make either a novel banded bullet as herein described or a standard diameter bullet, especially where the user has a plurality of guns and wishes the separate styles of bullets therefor.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A die structure for the swedging of bullets comprising a body section, a head section, said sections having similar external screw threads, a nut engaging said screw threads and securing said sections together, the body having a bore, and the head section having a recess conforming to the shape of the point of a bullet, said recess at its base being of greater diameter than said bore, said body section being elongated.

-2. -A die structure for the swedging of bullets comprising a body section, a head section said sections having similar external screw threads,

a nut engaging said screw threads and securing said sections together, the body having a bore, and the head section having a recess conforming to the shape of the point of a bullet, said recess at its base being of greater diameter than said bore, said body section being elongated, and a lock nut engaging the screw threads of the body section and adapted to abut against the nut.

FREDERICK T. HUNTINGTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 469,631 Briggs Feb. 23, 1892 670,611 Hoffman-n -1 Mar. 26, 1901 1,142,782 Carlson June 8, 1915 1,455,354 Porter May 15, 1923 1,732,211 Olin et al. Oct. 15, 1.929

1,900,665 Prussing Mar. 7, 1933 2,024,286 Handler Dec. 17, 1935 2,197,223 Macdonald Apr. 1-6, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 367,059 Italy Jan. 14,1939 458,962 Germany l Apr. 24, 1928 

